title: Effectiveness of a topical local anaesthetic spray as analgesia for dressing changes: a double-blinded randomised pilot trial comparing an emulsion with an aqueous lidocaine formulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial thickness skin graft wounds are painful. Topically applied lidocaine has been used for analgesia in several clinical trials. This study compared the effectiveness of two different formulations of topical local anaesthetic for dressing changes of partial thickness skin graft donor sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind randomised controlled, pilot trial was conducted in 29 patients undergoing split thickness skin graft surgery. Subjects were randomised to either a 3% lidocaine emulsion formulation "Treatment E" (NOPAYNE™) or a 4% aqueous solution "Treatment A" (Xylocaine™). Subjects received one spray per 3 cm(2) of donor site area followed by up to two further spays as required. Endpoints included pain intensity measured by the numerical rating scale (NRS) up to 1h after dressing change commencement, sting sensation, overall satisfaction and lidocaine plasma concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 60 min pain scores for E and A were 1.3 ± 0.3 (mean ± SEM) and 1.8 ± 0.4 (p=0.98) respectively. Nearly 90% of patients were very satisfied with their treatment. The mean plasma concentrations of lidocaine for A and E were 0.132 mg/l and 0.040 mg/l respectively (p=0.069).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The topical local anaesthetic formulations achieved low pain scores during dressing changes. The safety profile was potentially improved with the emulsion formulation of lidocaine.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; N S Technologies Pty Ltd., Perth, WA 6050, Australia. Electronic address: c.desai@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Chiragkumar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Burn Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesiology in Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, MRF Building, RPH, Perth, WA 6847, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schug
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: N S Technologies Pty Ltd., Perth, WA 6050, Australia.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fridlender
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Vivian Bruce
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Sunderland
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004655:Emulsions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004655:Emulsions; D012996:Solutions; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: Burn pain; Burns; Donor site dressing change; Emulsion; Lidocaine; Lidocaine spray; Local anaesthetic formulation; Partial thickness skin graft; Skin graft wound